Oklahoma governor halts taxpayer funding for all abortion-affiliated providers
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order (EO) on July 31 directing all state agencies to cease any funding sent to abortion businesses or organizations affiliated with abortion.
Key Takeaways:
The order prohibits public funding for any organization associated with abortion.
It follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which allowed states to defund abortion providers.
The order mandates the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to ensure that SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program, is not funding any program that commits abortions, refers for abortions, or has any affiliation with abortion-related entities.
The Details:
The EO is in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which gave states the authority to redirect taxpayer funds away from organizations that commit abortions, like Planned Parenthood.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, the executive order requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to do the following:
Conduct a full review and revision of provider credentialing standards to ensure all participants align with Oklahoma’s pro-life public policy.
Terminate and refuse to renew any SoonerCare contracts with entities that perform, refer to, or are affiliated with abortion services.
Require all SoonerCare providers to sign a statement attesting whether they or anyone they’re connected to are involved in abortion-related activities.
Implement new rules and enforcement mechanisms to ensure ongoing compliance.
“The order also prohibits all state agencies from providing grants, contracts, or funding of any kind to abortion-affiliated providers directly or indirectly.”
“Oklahoma is a pro-life state, and our policies should reflect that at every level of our government,” Gov. Stitt said. “We won’t allow tax dollars to indirectly subsidize and flow into the abortion industry under the guise of women’s health. My order makes sure every public dollar aligns with our values and supports providers who respect life at every stage.”
The Bottom Line:
Oklahoma is already considered a pro-life state, as nearly all preborn children are protected from abortion there by law.
Senator John Haste told KOCO that OHCA currently doesn’t believe any of its providers commit abortions, and the order shouldn’t change anything; instead, it simply strengthens the state’s pro-life stance.
“It’s just reinforcing what is already in place and just making sure there is nothing that has fallen through the cracks.”
Per the order, OHCA has 120 days to implement the standards, and 150 days to report back to the governor’s office with compliance efforts and the number of impacted providers.
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